KANSAS CITY - In an effort to address their on-base demands and generate depth, the Royals authorized utilityman Garrett Hampson to a 1 year agreement, the group introduced on Wednesday.Hampson's deal deserves $2 million, a resource informed MLB.com.Hampson, that spent last season with the Marlins, ended up being a target for the Royals this offseason due to his flexibility in the field, his on-base capability and his speed. He's rated in the 96th percentile or higher in sprint speed in each of his six Big league periods. Hampson additionally provides them a right-handed bat in a lineup heavy with lefties.We have signed INF/OF Garrett Hampson to an one-year contract.Welcome to Kansas City, Garrett! pic.twitter.com/4t6EJTHzOC— Kansas City Royals () November 29 Kris Bubic Jersey, 2023" He's a player we have actually had a lot of passion in over the last pair of years, and when we thought of the offseason, we were considering just how we need to place a group together and what we need, " general manager J.J. Picollo stated. "Which's a full roster, a deep roster. The even more flexibility you can obtain, the far better off you're mosting likely to be. With Garrett, we're obtaining someone [that] can play the infield, someone who can play the outfield, clearly fits the right-handed item for us. " There's a rate element to his game https://www.kansascityroyalsprostore.com/brad-keller-jersey, jumped on base at a high-percentage in 2014. These are all things that we were targeting with the offseason." Hampson, 29, invested the very first 5 seasons of his occupation with Colorado, which chose him in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft. But he played 98 video games in 2023 with Miami, where he shuffled between the infield and outfield. Hampson played all three spots in the outfield - 26 in facility, 21 in right and 10 in left - and primarily shortstop (30 video games) when he got on the dust https://www.kansascityroyalsprostore.com/raul-ibanez-jersey, although he logged 13 games at 2nd base and 5 at third.A similar function awaits him in Kansas City." That versatility is mosting likely to enter play quite a bit, " Picollo said.The adjustment of landscapes from Colorado to Miami mainly helped Hampson, also as he escaped hitter-friendly Coors Field. In 2023, Hampson struck a career-best.276 and uploaded a career-high.729 OPS.And Hampson hopped on base at a. 349 clip, which stimulated the Royals' rate of interest, given that their.303 team on-base percentage was third worst in the Majors last season.Hampson said he had the ability to get back to who he feels he is as a player in 23, and that account fits the Royals' style." It was even more of a change for me from looking mechanically throughout my time in Colorado to getting me back to where I remained in the Minor Leagues as I began to adapt to Big league throwing Lucas Duda Jersey, " Hampson claimed." And afterwards going totally far from the technicians and really going to the technique side of it, and game-planning versus these bottles. I assume the staff with the Marlins did a truly excellent work helpful me realize what I'm attempting to accomplish each at-bat." The Royals are set at shortstop with Bobby Witt Jr. as their franchise business player, however Hampson will likely act as experienced deepness in the infield - comparable to Matt Duffy's duty last season, however with the capacity to play the outfield, consisting of center field.For example, Hampson can be watched as a right-handed alternative to 2nd baseman Michael Massey or center fielder Kyle Isbel.Hampson's 76.6% profession call rate is strong, however the Royals believe there's more to touch in there, too." I found out a great deal about myself as a player [in Miami], grew a great deal in one year, " Hampson stated. "Things weren't as great in Colorado for me. I didn't seem like I was doing what I was qualified of. And last year was a huge action onward for me Ryan McBroom Jersey, so I feel actually excellent entering into this offseason." I'm really thrilled to be here. I've listened to only wonderful points regarding the arena and the city itself. And I assume it's an excellent fit." Hampson doesn't take care of the Royals' need for even more power in the middle of the schedule, but his offer is low-risk and still with upside offered the adjustments he made offensively in 2023. With deepness unemployed, Kansas City can still target an effect bat - however pitching remains the priority.And as baseball's yearly Winter months Conferences approach following week in Nashville, the pitching market is beginning to move. Per sources, the Royals have been in on a couple of pitchers who have authorized already with various other teams and Kansas City stays in touch with several on the marketplace who fit its account." [The pitching market is] something we're included with, " Picollo stated. "Exactly how quickly those dominoes start to fall - we've seen a few sign, yet there's still a lot out there. Dealing with the pitching goes to the top of our list."